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"You asked who?"

"Stop it Lean, you're making it a much bigger deal than it actually is."

"And when she said no, you asked who?"

"Lean, I'm serious."

"And she said yes!"

Neville stared at me in disbelief before turning to his half eaten plate of food, not speaking or even glancing in my direction.

He remained silent, even as we left the Great Hall and walked back up to the common room, despite my best efforts to cheer him up with jokes which sounded much better in my own head than it did in reality.

"Oh, come on, I said I'm sorry," I said in desperation when Neville continued his annoyingly effective silent treatment.

"No, you're not," he said at last.

"Tell it again," I said eagerly, relieved he was even talking to me. "I promise not to react like that again. I promise."

Neville finally turned to me, though he looked like he was going to refuse, but then he sighed and shook his head in defeat. "Okay fine, I asked Hermione to the Yule Ball, as a friend, but she told me she was already going with someone. So then I asked Ron's sister, Ginny, and she agreed. Once again, as a friend. Notice how I added emphasis on the word, 'friend'. Now what's wrong with your face?"

Lean had scrunched up her face to try and hold back her laughter. But she could hardly take it anymore and let out a loud snort, instantly covering her face with her hands to hide her grin. But her body's uncontrollable shaking was a dead giveaway and Neville raised his brows questionably.

"Are you laughing at me Malfoy?"

"What? Of course not!"

"Come on Lean, you promised!"

"Hey, I promised I won't act aghast. I said nothing about not laughing."

Neville sighed. "You're insufferable."

"Yeah? Well, if you were asking people out as friends, why didn't you ask me?"

"I thought you were already going out with someone?"

"What gave you that idea?"

"I don't know," he shrugged. "I guess I just assumed someone would've ask you by now... But if you were free... oh, I made things a lot more complicated than it needed to be, didn't I?"

"Yep", I laughed, pulling my friend into a side hug as we finally reached the portrait of the Fat Lady.

"Err..." Neville hesitated, trying to remember the new password they'd changed only yesterday.

"Fairy lights," I said, saving Neville from embarrassment. The portrait swung forward to emit us. Once inside, Neville retreated to his dorm leaving me to scout around for something to do. My eyes immediately located four familiar faces sitting in a corner of the room – three belonged to the Golden Trio, and the fourth I recognised as Ron's younger sister, Ginny.

I entered hearing range just as Ginny was saying, "—they've both just been turned down by girls they asked to the ball."

"Who's been turned down by who?" I asked, sitting down beside Hermione, eager to hear this new hot gossip.

"Ron and Harry," Ginny answered with a grin. "By Fleur Delacour and Cho Chang."

"Thanks a bunch, Ginny," Ron said moodily.

"No way, really?" I stared between the two boys, not even bothering to hide my grin. "I'm surprised. Not for you, Ron – Fleur is very clearly out of your league. But Harry? I'd have thought you'd have no problem. A chance to go out with 'The Chosen One'? Who passes up that opportunity?"

Harry and Ron both gave me a look. I apologised, but the grin I'd failed to wipe off my face sort of took away any sincerity I'd tried to gain.

"All the good-looking ones taken, Ron?" Hermione asked. "Eloise Midgen starting to look quite pretty now, is she? Well, I'm sure you'll find someone somewhere who'll have you."

Then Ron did something that I could only label as very, very stupid.

"Hermione, Neville's right — you are a girl..." He said, his eyes wide as if just realising this.

"Oh well spotted."

"Well — you can come with one of us. And so can Lean."

"No, I can't," Hermione snapped.

"Oh come on," Ron said, slightly irritably. "We need partners, we're going to look really stupid if we haven't got any, everyone else has..."

"I can't come with you," said Hermione, now blushing, "because I'm already going with someone."

"No, you're not!" Ron exclaimed. "You just said that to get rid of Neville!"

I felt my face burn in fury. Not only was he acting like a rude, selfless git to my friend, but he was also offending Neville in the process! I was so not having that!

But before I could shout out a ruthless retort, Hermione beat me to it, her face also glowing in anger. "Oh did I? Just because it's taken you three years to notice, Ron, doesn't mean no one else has spotted I'm a girl!"

But Ron didn't know where to quit. With a grin, he said, "Okay, okay, we know you're a girl. That do? Will you and Lean come with us now?"

"I've already told you!" Hermione said in fury. "I'm going with someone else!"

Hermione made a beeline for the girl's dormitory.

Run blinked a few times, then turned to me. "Lean..."

"Don't even think about it," I warned, standing up and hurrying after my friend.

"Ugh!" I said loudly, slamming the dormitory door behind me. "Boys can be so insensitive, it's crazy!" I paused when I noticed Hermione sitting on the edge of her bed looking more upset than I'd ever seen her.

"Hey," I said gently, sitting down beside her and pulling an arm around her in a sort of sideways hug. "Don't listen to Ron. He knows you're a girl. He just can be a bit... well you'd know."

"Yeah," Hermione sniffed.

"So... who is this mystery guy? And why didn't you tell me sooner?" I asked.

Hermione blushed deeply. "I- I don't know. I guess I just didn't want everyone to make a huge fuss..."

"Ooooh! Tell me, tell me, tell me! Is it that fifth year from Ravenclaw? I heard a rumour he fancied you."

Hermione shook her head.

"Well, who then?"

"Umm... okay... promise not to make this a big deal..."

"Cross my heart and hope to die."

"Okay... well... it's Viktor Krum."

My mouth literally fell open. "For real?"

She nodded. "For real."

"Oh my god... Krum asked you to the dance? Viktor Krum? The same Viktor Krum who we saw play at Quidditch World Cup? The same Viktor Krum who's now competing in the Triwizard Tournament?"

"How many Viktor Krums do you know, Lean?"

"I just... can't believe it..."

"What? That someone realised I was a girl before Ron? Or because he asked me out and not someone pretty or popular like you?"

"No, of course not," I said. "I just can't believe you didn't tell me sooner. It makes total sense that he would ask someone like you - someone brave, loyal and super, super smart. Don't doubt yourself just because Ron's a complete idiot."

Hermione sent me a grateful smile. "Thanks Lean."

Suddenly realising something, I slumped forward and face palmed. "Augh... I told the guys I had a date too. Great, now I'm going to look super pathetic..."

Now it was Hermione's turn to comfort me. "Don't say that. Want me to ask Viktor to see if one of his friends needs a date?"

"Ooh... a Durmstrang boy," I said, perking up. "Yes please."

Hermione chuckled and shook her head in disbelief. A moment later, she stood up and said, "Well, I'm going to bed. See you tomorrow Lean—"

"Not so fast," I grinned, yanking her back onto the bed. "Don't think you're getting out of this so easy. Come on, start at the beginning. How did you and Vicky meet?"

"Vicky?"

"Shh... don't fight the name. Now. Speak. Go."

Hermione sighed but gave in and began telling me the story of how she met Viktor Krum at the library. I listened in wonder, undeniably jealous of my friend, but happy all the same.